Hosanna Restoration Church

I was recently singing that great old song, The Old Rugged Cross, when it hit me that I did not want to cling to the cross. I want to cling to the One who “was” on that cross. Yes He was on that cross, and thank God for all that took place on that cross, and I will never forget the price that was paid on that cross. But I do not want to cling to it. I also do not want anyone who loves that song, as I do, to be offended by what I am saying. But I just do not want to cling to the cross.

Why would I want to wait to lay my burdens down. I want to die and be raised again. That is what it means to be born again. So why keep hanging on the cross. It occurred to me that this is exactly what keeps many from walking as Christ intends us to. The cross could be used to represent religion; Something to stay tied to even when we are supposed to move on. Jesus never stayed on the cross. They got Him off just as soon as they could. It was on the cross that He finished the victory and in the resurrection that all of the promises were fulfilled.

This is not written for the purpose of criticizing a great old song. It was just the song that the Holy Spirit used to help spark me to be even more determined to get that prize and all the rewards that life in Christ offers. We of course must pick up our cross and die on it. Our flesh has to die daily. But let’s die and get on with what God has called us to do. Some folks do appear to cling to the cross. They refuse to die to self and are just hoping that hanging on cross will save them. But let’s remember, we need to have the living Christ dwelling in us through the new birth.

So then, we become partakers of Christ(the anointed one and His anointing)if we hold the beginning of our confidence. In the beginning, we came for a new life. We came because we realized we needed a savior. A savior to save us from our old lives and give us a new life. And we believed Jesus would do it. So what about the rest of the promises. Today is the day. Not someday. Someday is a word that causes a lot of problems in every area of life. We are all guilty of waiting for someday for some things. But when it comes to the things of God. Someday is too late. If we have the opportunity today, then we must take it today.

We must not be hearers of the Word, who intend to put it into practice someday. Or as others who hope that maybe someday God will do something for them. God is ready now. All the promises of God are yes and amen. When? When we cling to them. When we lean on the promises and the promiser and not on some object, or some theology. When we come to the realization that God is our source of life, and the life He offers is good, then we will begin to cling to Him. Remember the cross…but cling to Jesus.